Dorien Verhulst
Partner
Dorien is a partner at Brinkhof, specialising in information law with a particular focus on copyright, database law, surveillance and electronic communications. Her expertise extends to advising media and other companies in these areas, including addressing the intersection of these legal aspects with other rights and interests. Dorien’s proficiency also encompasses providing guidance to international tech and telecom companies regarding demands from investigative bodies and orders from intelligence agencies. Her registered area of law with the Dutch bar is information law.
Member of the Copyright Commission
Since 2022, Dorien has served as a member of the Copyright Commission, providing crucial insights and recommendations on copyright legislation and policy to the Dutch government and parliament. She was involved in four notable proceedings involving GeenStijl and Sanoma, which centred around hyperlinks to a leaked Playboy report by Britt Dekker.
"Dorien Verhulst advises media and technology sector clients on litigation concerning the presentation of disinformation, liability for content provided by third-party advertisers and the right to be forgotten. She is also experienced in working with a range of media companies on regulatory matters.
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"Dorien Verhulst is an excellent lawyer who is very practical and crisp in her analysis. She is able to structure and drive forward complex matters."
Chambers & Partners - Europe Guide 2026
"Dorien Verhulst is very knowledgeable and a pleasant person to work with.
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Experience & ancillary activities
Dorien regularly delivers courses to specialist audiences. She is a regular speaker on online platforms at the annual PAO (post-academic education) course entitled Actualiteiten Auteursrecht (Updates in Copyright Law) and at the Study Day on Unlawful Press Publications. She is also an active member of the US-based Media Law Resource Center (MLRC), including as co-organiser of a European media law conference. Dorien is committed to the empowerment and representation of women in her field, including through the international non-profit organisation Chiefs in IP (ChIPs), for which she set up a Dutch Chapter in 2022. Dorien studied at the University of Amsterdam’s Institute for Information Law (IViR) and Fordham Law School in New York. She was sworn in as a lawyer in 2008.
Een greep uit de zaken van Dorien Verhulst:
Dorien advises on new legislation, particularly in Europe. Examples include the Digital Services Act (DSA), the DSM Copyright Directive, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive and other vertical instruments aimed at combating harmful content online. Recently this has included:
- supporting a DSA compliance project, including at an international cloud provider, a social media company and a non-profit organisation;
- advising on the recent European Regulations (and proposed regulations) on combating online terrorism and child abuse, including considering existing voluntary measures taken by a client.
